Hiking and Biking El Puntudo Hill – Galapagos

This endemic species belongs Melastomatacea family, it is easy to identify since the leaves are simple and opposite with a very characteristic venation pattern (the main veins are palmate at the leaf base, and the secondary vein are parallel as a ladder). The color of this plant is a mix between green, brown and purple. The flowers are purple, the fruits are dark blue. This fruit are a good resource of food for several species of birds.

This bird is also known as “pata pedada” or “web-footed one”. It is one of the six endemic seabirds of the islands. They spend most of the time at the sea eating invertebrates and fish. When is the breeding season they return to their large colonies locate on the highlands of San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santiago and Floreana island.

Laterallus spilonotus; this endemic species is a small gruiforme not taller than 5.9 inches, covered with mostly black feathers, with some grey on the top of the head and red-brown patch on back and the winds with white spots and red eyes. Feeds on small snails, dragonflies, seeds and fruits. The best areas to find this elusive bird in near pods.

This is a native species, the female is quite similar than the Galapagos rail, but the beak got a bright red color on the base and the legs are also red. It's also dark, but without the white dots. The male is much taller and colorful, with metallic green feathers on the back and blue feathers on the chest, long yellow legs and colorful bill (yellow, red and green).